Best Full-Sized Vacuums for $300 or Less
CR's vacuum tests find that you don’t have to spend top dollar to get a top-performing vacuum
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
Sure, you can use a stick vacuum or a handheld for small messes, but when it comes to deep cleaning, nothing beats a full-sized machine.
You could spend up to $550 to get one of CR’s high-performing uprights, and most of the canister vacuums on our top picks list cost well over $500. But you can get a perfectly capable vacuum for less if you can live without some convenience features, such as automatic pile-height adjustment or a self-propelled system that assists pushing and pulling.
“Typically, the more features there are, the more a vacuum costs,” says Kelly Moomey, CR’s analyst who covers the vacuum market. “But there are deals to be found, especially during Black Friday and the holidays, on vacuums in all price ranges.”
In our tough vacuums tests, we challenge full-sized vacuums to remove talc, sand, and Maine coon cat hair embedded in carpet, and sand strewn on linoleum floors. We also judge how easy a vacuum is to maneuver and whether the suction is strong enough to use attachments. For more information, read How CR Tests Vacuums.
Here, listed in alphabetical order by type, are seven full-sized upright and canister vacuums for $300 or less that clean up in our tests. As you'll see, they're all from Shark and Kenmore, brands that typically cost less than higher-priced competitors such as Miele or Dyson. If you’re willing to spend a little more, read about the best uprights or the best canisters from CR’s tests. You can also check out our full vacuum ratings and vacuum buying guide.
Keep in mind that prices fluctuate. As a result, you may spot a vacuum listed here selling for a bit more than $300—or even for much less.
Go to Consumer Reports' 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider tips on shopping, and much more.
CR’s take: If you have a pet that sheds and hardwood or tile floors, the Kenmore Pet Friendly 31140 will serve you well as it earns Excellent ratings on both those tests. It also earns a Very Good for cleaning carpet. Suction through the hose is impressive so if you use your attachments to clean curtains or upholstery, you won’t be disappointed. Emissions are clean, meaning this bagged vacuum retains what it sucks up. It comes with a HEPA filter, which is designed to capture more dirt particles, and a light that indicates when the bag is full so you know when it’s time to change it—two pluses if you’re sensitive to dust. Based on data from our exclusive member survey, Kenmore uprights earn a middling score of Good for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
CR’s take: The bagless Kenmore Pet Friendly CrossOver 31220 is top-notch at cleaning bare floors and, true to its name, earns an Excellent rating at picking up piles of cat fur. It falls short of our top marks for carpet cleaning, but still earns an impressive Very Good rating. And unlike some bagless models, it retains the debris it vacuums up so emissions are clean. Suction through the hose is strong, but this Kenmore is noisy.
CR’s take: The Kenmore Progressive 10135 aces two out of three of our tough cleaning tests—those for bare floors and pet hair—and earns a Very Good rating for cleaning carpet. Emissions for this bagless model are pretty clean but, like all bagless vacuums, emptying the bin can release dust back into the air. Suction through the hose is only average, so this is not the best choice if you use attachments often. Also, like the Kenmore above, this model is noisy.
CR’s take: The bagless Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 earns an Excellent rating on our bare floors test and is almost as good at cleaning carpet. But if you have a pet that sheds, there are better choices—this model isn’t great with pet hair. While emissions are clean, the dust bin can be a bit tricky to empty; when we tried it during our tests, it stirred up some dust. Hose suction is average. Shark uprights get our top mark, Excellent, for owner satisfaction, and a Very Good rating for predicted reliability.
CR’s take: Like its brandmate above, the Shark Navigator Professional Lift-Away NV356E earns an Excellent rating for cleaning bare floors and a Very Good rating for cleaning carpet. It’s not the best at cleaning up pet hair, so look elsewhere if you share your home with a furry friend or two. This model is bagless and emissions are clean, but like all bagless vacuums, you have to take care not to release debris when you empty the bin. Suction through the hose isn’t very impressive, so this model isn’t ideal if you often use attachments.
CR’s take: The Kenmore 400 Series 81414 earns top marks for cleaning bare floors and removing pet hair and is Very Good at cleaning carpet. It gets only an average score for emissions, so if you have allergies, consider a vacuum that scores higher in this test so you don't get debris kicked back into the house. Suction through the hose is impressive, so this is a good choice if you often use attachments. This Kenmore is a bit noisy, though. In our member survey, Kenmore canisters earn ratings of Good for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
CR’s take: The Kenmore 200 Series 81214 rates Very Good at cleaning carpet and earns top marks for cleaning bare floors and removing pet hair. It gets only an average score for emissions, however, so if you have allergies, consider a vacuum that scores higher on that test. Suction through the hose is impressive, making this a good choice if you often use attachments to clean fabrics like curtains or upholstery. But like the Kenmore canister above, this one is a bit noisy.
BEST TIME TO BUY:
